Illuminated level



Aug. 19, 1952 w. w. ARNOLD 2,607,882

L ILLUMINATED LEVEL Filed Aug. 26, 1949 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Fig. 3 88 84 82 80 86 34. y 36 |24 30 "W2" V3 26 58 l E @f v 32 2g' 46 7?/ alo Za 48' ll 321 yL /g4- Fig.5.

l0 ,50 //2 y 70\ v l0 ,44 l Inventor 74 406 62 figg Wfl/lam W. Arno/d A -/'/a 67; waa B *n L 58 xii Y y Aug. 19, 1952 w. w. ARNOLD vILLUMINATED LEVEL 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Aug. 26, 1949 Will/'am W. Arno/d Patented Aug. 19, 1952 j UNIT-Eo STATES ILLUMINATED LEVELV William W. Arnold, Jennings Lodge, Greg Application August 26, 1949, Serial N0. 1121503" Y 1 4 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in carpenters levels and the primary object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated level that can be conveniently utilized for trueing up structural elements at night or under poor lighting conditions.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide an illuminated level including a light unit that is quickly and readily applied to or removed from a level in a convenient manner.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an attachment for levels including a small and compact light unit that is so constructed as to add very little weight tothe level on which the same is applied.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide an illuminated level that is strong and reliable in use, simple and practical in construction, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the saine is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of the construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to .the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevational vView of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of Figure 1 and with the anchor plate removed for the convenience of explanation;

Figure 3 is an enlarged longitudinaLrhorizontal sectional View taken substantially on the plane of section line 3-3 of Figure l; l

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken substantially on the plane of section line 4-4 of Figure l;

v Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional View taken substantially on the plane of section line 5 5 of Figure l;

Figure Gis a group perspective View of the present invention; Y

Figure '7 is a group .perspective View of the switch mechanism used in conjunction with the present invention;

vFigure B is a perspective view kof the battery holder used in conjunction with the present invention; and, y y y I Figure 9 is an enlarged,A longitudinal horizontal sectional View takensubstantiallyl-onthe plane of section line 9 9 of Figure V2. y *I 1 Referring now to the drawings in, detail,

5 claims. (o1. 24m-6.44)

wherein for thepurposeofillustratiom there is disclosed a preferred embodiment'offthe' present invention; the-numeral Ill `represents a'carpenters level generally, including :an lopen, substantially rectangular frame having upper-and lowei` walls I2 and I4, and end walls/I6 and I3. f Y

A pair of substantially circular leveltube units or supports 2|)` and 22 are integrally formed with the upper and lower Walls -I2and l4. The'units 20 and22 are disposed adjacent .the endwalls I6 and l8. The unit 20 supports a pair of vertically disposed arcuate' leveltubes 24 and the unit 22 supports a pair of horizontally'disposed arcuate level tubes 26.- 'q ,Y .y

Internal Webs or reinforcing ribs 2,8Aare1pro vided on the Walls l2, Utiliv and I8; Inner vand outer arcuate ribs 30 and 32 are 'providedon each of the units 20 and 22. These latest ribs, 30 and 32, reinforce and strengthen the level .units and have a further function whichY will later' be more fully apparent. z f o f The'present invention Vdoesinotattempt ito claim the above described Well. known" level construction, but is merely "an attachment therefor whereby the level units vmay be conveniently observed under poor lighting conditions.

The numeral 34 represents an 'elongated substantially rectangular support .plate having concavo-convexed flanges 36 and'38 as its en'ds that embrace the level units 20 and 22. The .outer and forward edges of .the iian'gesl and 38 bear against the rear surfaces "ofv the outerlribs 32;

Forwardly extending, spa'ced parallel upper and lower flanges 40 and-42'projectlaterally from the support'plate 34 and bearlagainstthe rear surfaces ofthe 4ribs 28 onf=the pperand lower walls. I2 and'l4,'intermediatelthe level units, to strengthen the support and to preventLbending ofthe support.. 1" I -W' Means is provided forde'tachably securing the support 34 to the level Illy and this means'cornprises an elongated substantially rectangular anchor plate 44 having concavo-convexed iianges 46 and 48 at its ends. The outer lcoricaved surfaces of the flanges 46 andllfbear yagainst the inner convexed surfaces of :the Alevelunitsdll and 2 2, and the rearand outeredgesof the flanges 46 and 48 bear against'the'forwardsurfaces of the inner ribs 30.

Upper and lower, 'spaced"parallel,"rearwardly extending ilanges 50 an 'from the anchor plate of the anchor plate and to retain the anchor plate spaced parallel to the support plate.

The anchor plate 44 is provided with a pair oi diagonally disposed apertures 54 that register with internally threaded openings 56 in the support plate 34. Bolts 58 enter the apertures 54 and are threaded in the openings 56 for detachably connecting the anchor plate to the support plate.

A battery {holder-60"of resilient, .bendab'lel .material is'mounted on the supportplate 34 and this holder consists of a substantially rectangular plate having its end portions bent to provide upper and lower split sleeves 62 and 64. VA retaining iiange 68 is provided at one end of the sleeve 62 and a further retaining flange 88 is provided at the opposite end of thec sleeve 64. i

The sleeves 62 and 84 are embraced by split sleeves 10 and 12 of insulating or non-conductive material that rest against an insulated pad 14 on Vlike 82.

Upper and lower angle brackets o'r lamp holders 84 and 86 are secured to the support plate 34 and areprovided with thread-ed openings that receivably engage lamp bulbs- 88 and 90. AContact lingers 92 and 94 are mounted on the brackets 84 and 86, yieldingly bear against thebases of the lamp bulbs, and arelprovided with 4channeled portions 96 and 98 that bear against the terminals of batteries that are' received kin the sleeves 62 and 64. i

A iinger grip includes ashank portion |02 that is slidably received inan'elongated slot 04 provided in the anchor plate 44. The web portion of a substantially U-shaped switch member |06 is secured to the shank portionV |02 by a fastener |08 and the leg portions of the switch'member are slidably received in parallel slots ||0 in the central portion 16 of the holder 60.. Retaining anges I2 on the leg portions ofthe switch member are disposed behind the portion 'Hi to prevent disengagement of the switch member from theholderill. if'

Contact channels H14 are integrally formed with the switch `member |06 and'one of these contact channels will engage a contact plate 'I I6 mounted on one of the fasteners l8,0 when the switch member ismovedin onedirection by the finger grip |00 to ground the batteries and complete theV circuit tothe lamp bulbs whereupon the lamp bulbs will become energized. f

A coil spring I8 embraces the fastener V| 08 and is biased between the head of the fastener |08 and the web portion of the switch member |08 to yieldingly retain the switch member in a selected adjusted position or inv a circuit open or circuit closed position. s

In view of the foregoing description-taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to, be. understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described apreferred embodiment of l,the invention' the'same is susceptible to certain changes fully'A comprehend- 4 ed by the spirit of the invention as herein described and the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An illuminating level comprising a substantially rectangular frame, a pair of leveling units mounted on said frame, a combined reector and support plate extending between and past the level units and spaced laterally from the level units and having end flanges resting against the level units, a pair of illuminating members mounted on said support plate between the level units for directing light rays toward the ends of the plates and behind the level units for illuminating the level units, a source of power for said illumi- V'nating members, a switch controlling the circuit y to the illuminating members, ribs on the level units, an anchor plate extending between the level units and having iianged portions bearing against the ribs, and means securing the anchor plate to the support plate and said flanged portions against said ribs.

2. An illuminating level comprising a substantially rectangular frame, a pair of level units mounted on said frame, a support plate extending between and past the level units and' having end iianges resting against the level units, a pair of illuminating members mounted on said support plate for illuminating the level units, a source of power for said illuminating members, a switch controlling the circuit to the illuminating members, ribs on the level units, an anchor plate having flanged portions bearing against the ribs, means securing the anchor plate to the support plate, a holder mounted on said support plate for said source of power, said holder including a pair of spaced sleeves for yieldingly receiving a pair of batteries, said switch being slidably mounted on said holder, and a nger grip for said switch slidably mounted on said anchor plate said level units including rear faces spaced laterally from the support plate to define spaces through which light rays from the illuminating members are directed to pass behind the level units.

3. An illuminating level comprising a substantially rectangular frame, a pair of leveling units mounted on said frame, a support plate extending between and past said leveling units and having end flanges resting against said leveling units, said leveling units being confined between said end ang-es, an anchor plate extending between said leveling units and having end flanged portions, ribs on said leveling units engaged by said flanged portions, fasteners extending through said support plate and said anchor plate and directly connecting the support plate to the anchor plate, said levelingv units vincluding rear faces spaced laterally from the support plate, and lamp bulbs carried by said support plate for` directing light rays into the space between the rear faces of the leveling units and the support plate behind said leveling units. e

4. An illuminating level comprising a substantially rectangular frame, a pair of levelingvunits mounted on said frame, a support plate extending between and past said leveling unitsand spaced laterally from the leveling units, said plate having end flanges resting against saidl leveling units, said leveling units being confined between said end flanges, an anchor plate extending between said leveling units and having end flanged portions, ribs on said leveling units engagedby said flanged portions, fasteners extending through said support plate and said1v anchor plate', directly connecting the "support Y'plate tothe anchor plate, a holder supported solely by said support plate, batteries on said holder, lamp bulbs on said support plate and between said support plate and said anchor plate for directing light rays between the support plate and the leveling units and behind the leveling units, a switch member slidably carried by the holder for selectively making and breaking a circuit to said lamp bulbs, a linger grip slidably carried by the anchor plate and connected to the switch member for sliding the member, and spring means acting on said finger grip and yieldingly urging the finger grip against the outer face of said anchor plate.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said switch member includes a channel having spaced leg portions and a web portion joining said spaced WILLIAM W. ARNOLD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,198,945 Morris Apr. 20, 1940 2,453,091 Holloway et al. Nov. 2, 1948 

